From SILSWiki

Introduction to the SILS wiki

The SILS wiki is intended to be primarily an informal online knowledge repository for stuff we frequently want to know and ask on the various SILS list-servs. How do you do this? Where do you go for that? Where is so and so? Which thingamabob is best? Do you really need that CCI laptop? Technical information, how to geek out your iPod, newcomer information, school & course information, job resources, a list of SILS-centric links. Whatever you want to know, ask it, whatever you know, answer it. The sum of all SILS knowledge might be a tall order, but some of all SILS knowledge is entirely doable.

Who is the SILS wiki for?

The SILS wiki is of the people, by the people, for the people of SILS, including faculty, staff and, of course, students.

Who maintains the SILS wiki?

A wiki is a social effort and the SILS wiki is no different. Overall, the students of SILS maintain (or don't maintain) the wiki. Anyone can add or update content, and you are encouraged to do so, so you can play as big a part as you want. In addition to the general SILS community, ILSSA provides administrative and editorial oversight.

History of the SILS FAQ wiki

The idea of a SILS wiki has been kicked around the SILS list-serv for years. The October 2005 visit of Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, along with a series of serendipitous events, led one BSIS student to do a research project on wikis, which in turn led to the creation of the SILS FAQ wiki as a way of contributing something useful to the SILS community. The SILS FAQ wiki was initially created in November 2005, and was turned over to ILSSA in December 2005. ILSSA improved upon the original wiki, added security and functionality enhancements, moved it under the ILSSA website, and released it to the SILS community on 1/31/2006.

Why a wiki?

Because a wiki is a superior collaborative knowledge-building tool, it is easy to use, and ideally suited for community-maintained FAQs and knowledge bases. There is nothing better to capture the sum (or some) of our collective knowledge than a wiki.

Unlike blogs or websites, which are inseparable from the individual(s) publishing them, wikis are built upon specific content, so anyone with expertise in the subject matter can contribute meaningfully. Wikis are community-driven and self-policing. All contributors play an equal role, and share an equal stake, in managing the content. Nobody reviews submissions before they're published, but everyone is an editor once new content appears. Information that doesn't add value or lacks accuracy or credibility is usually corrected or deleted by other users quickly.

Ideally, one person's idea or entry prompts other users to add a level of thought, then others continuously build on that. A wiki is always in a state of improvement with multiple users adding or tweaking content. Because wikis attract primarily subject matter experts and people with informed opinions, they generally grow larger, smarter and more valuable with each new contribution.

For more on wikis, see the wiki inventor Ward Cunningham's page about wikis, see what Wikipedia has to say, and for a list of other public wikis, see SwitchWiki.

Rules of Engagement

So far there are no fast rules, just a general code of conduct. Besides our code of conduct, here are some basic suggestions on using the wiki:

• No Fear - Or, as Jimmy Wales says, be bold, and participate. Your knowledge, experience and opinions are immeasurably valuable. Click "[edit]" and share them with others, and don't worry about screwing up or syntax. Format can always be fixed later, it's the contribution of your knowledge that's key.
• Trust - Trust each other. Trust the process.
• Respect - See Trust.
• Grace - Be graceful and practice grace.

Questions? Comments?

Post your comments on the Feedback page, or feel free to contact ILSSA.

Your turn

Simply click the edit button on any page to tweak, correct or add to the content, or click "discussion" to start or participate in a discussion about that page.

If you want to add some zest to your text, see the quick guide to wiki markup @ the ASIST2005 wiki that Dr. Hemminger and Jackson Fox put together.